Endothelial nanomedicine for the treatment of pulmonary disease

Recent strategies for enhanced delivery of mRNA to the lungs

mRNA-based therapies have emerged as a transformative tool in modern medicine, gaining significant attention following their successful use in COVID-19 vaccines. Delivery to the lungs offers several compelling advantages for mRNA delivery. The lungs are one of the most vascularized organs in the body, which provides an extensive surface area that can facilitate efficient drug transport. Local delivery to the lungs bypasses gastrointestinal degradation, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the extensive capillary network of the lungs provides an ideal target for systemic delivery. However, developing effective mRNA therapies for the lungs presents significant challenges. The complex anatomy of the lungs and the body's immune response to foreign particles create barriers to delivery. This review discusses key approaches for overcoming these challenges and improving mRNA delivery to the lungs. It examines both local and systemic delivery strategies aimed at improving lung delivery while mitigating off-target effects. Although substantial progress has been made in lung-targeted mRNA therapies, challenges remain in optimizing cellular uptake and achieving therapeutic efficacy within pulmonary tissues. The continued refinement of delivery strategies that enhance lung-specific targeting while minimizing degradation is critical for the clinical success of mRNA-based pulmonary therapies.

Efficient Nebulization and Pulmonary Biodistribution of Polymeric Nanocarriers in an Acute Lung Injury Preclinical Model

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Pneumonia and sepsis are the most common causes, turning ARDS into a critical public health problem. Despite recent advances in pharmacological strategies, clinical trials have not demonstrated a reduction in ARDS-associated mortality. This is in part connected to the singularity of the pulmonary physiological barrier, which hampers drug delivery, specifically at distal areas. To this aim, the use of polymeric nanocarriers as a platform for the efficient delivery of therapeutics to the lungs by nebulization is introduced. Herein, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocapsules (NCs) loaded with human serum albumin, as an inhalable nanotherapeutic are prepared. The production of stable NCs aerosols in the inhalable range is achieved using a commercial device, while the nanocarrier's physicochemical parameters are only minimally altered after nebulization. Importantly, in vivo studies with healthy and acute lung injury animals show that after inhalation, the NCs are homogeneously distributed throughout the lungs, arriving at the distal areas. The NCs are internalized by alveolar type II cells, avoiding macrophage-mediated lung clearance. These features make the PLGA NCs excellent vehicles for noninvasive pulmonary delivery, facilitating a ready-to-be-used nanomedicine.

Nanocarriers' repartitioning of drugs between blood subcompartments as a mechanism of improving pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy

For medical emergencies, such as acute ischemic stroke, rapid drug delivery to the target site is essential. For many small molecule drugs, this goal is unachievable due to poor solubility that prevents intravenous administration, and less obviously, by extensive partitioning to plasma proteins and red blood cells (RBCs), which greatly slows delivery to the target. Here we study these effects and how they can be solved by loading into nanoscale drug carriers. We focus on fingolimod, a small molecule drug that is FDA-approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis, which has also shown promise in the treatment of stroke. Unfortunately, fingolimod has poor solubility and very extensive partitioning to plasma proteins and RBCs (in whole blood, 86% partitions to RBCs, 13.96% to plasma proteins, and 0.04% is free). We develop a liposomal formulation that slows the partitioning of fingolimod to RBCs and plasma proteins, enables intravenous delivery, and additionally prevents fingolimod toxicity to RBCs. The liposomal formulation nearly completely prevented fingolimod adsorption to plasma proteins (association with plasma proteins was 98.4 ± 0.4% for the free drug vs. 5.6 ± 0.4% for liposome-loaded drug). When incubated with whole blood in vitro, the liposomal formulation greatly slowed partitioning of fingolimod to RBCs and also eliminated deleterious effects of fingolimod on RBC rigidity, morphology, and hemolysis. In vivo, the liposomal formulation delayed fingolimod partitioning to RBCs for over 30 min, a critical time window for stroke. Fingolimod-loaded liposomes showed improved efficacy in a mouse model of post-stroke neuroinflammation, completely sealing the leaky blood-brain barrier (114 ± 11.5% reduction in albumin leak into the brain for targeted liposomes vs. 38 ± 16.5% reduction for free drug). This effect was only seen for liposomes modified with antibodies to enable targeted delivery to the site of action, and not in unmodified, long-circulating liposomes. Thus, loading fingolimod into liposomes prevented partitioning to RBCs and associated toxicities and enabled targeted delivery. This paradigm can be used for tuning the blood distribution of small molecule drugs for the treatment of acute illnesses requiring rapid pharmacologic intervention.

Marginated Neutrophils in the Lungs Effectively Compete for Nanoparticles Targeted to the Endothelium, Serving as a Part of the Reticuloendothelial System

Nanomedicine has long pursued the goal of targeted delivery to specific organs and cell types but has yet to achieve this goal with the vast majority of targets. One rare example of success in this pursuit has been the 25+ years of studies targeting the lung endothelium using nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies against endothelial surface molecules. However, here we show that such "endothelial-targeted" nanocarriers also effectively target the lungs' numerous marginated neutrophils, which reside in the pulmonary capillaries and patrol for pathogens. We show that marginated neutrophils' uptake of many of these "endothelial-targeted" nanocarriers is on par with endothelial uptake. This generalizes across diverse nanomaterials and targeting moieties and was even found with physicochemical lung tropism (i.e., without targeting moieties). Further, we observed this in ex vivo human lungs and in vivo healthy mice, with an increase in marginated neutrophil uptake of nanoparticles caused by local or distant inflammation. These findings have implications for nanomedicine development for lung diseases. These data also suggest that marginated neutrophils, especially in the lungs, should be considered a major part of the reticuloendothelial system (RES), with a special role in clearing nanoparticles that adhere to the lumenal surfaces of blood vessels.

Hybrid biomineralized nanovesicles to enhance inflamed lung biodistribution and reduce side effect of glucocorticoid for ARDS therapy

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a critical illness characterized by severe lung inflammation. Improving the delivery efficiency and achieving the controlled release of anti-inflammatory drugs at the lung inflammatory site are major challenges in ARDS therapy. Taking advantage of the increased pulmonary vascular permeability and a slightly acidic-inflammatory microenvironment, pH-responsive mineralized nanoparticles based on dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) and Ca2+ were constructed. By further biomimetic modification with M2 macrophage membranes, hybrid mineralized nanovesicles (MM@LCaP) were designed to possess immunomodulatory ability from the membranes and preserve the pH-sensitivity from core nanoparticles for responsive drug release under acidic inflammatory conditions. Compared with healthy mice, the lung/liver accumulation of MM@LCaP in inflammatory mice was increased by around 5.5 times at 48 h after intravenous injection. MM@LCaP promoted the polarization of anti-inflammatory macrophages, calmed inflammatory cytokines, and exhibited a comprehensive therapeutic outcome. Moreover, MM@LCaP improved the safety profile of glucocorticoids. Taken together, the hybrid mineralized nanovesicles-based drug delivery strategy may offer promising ideas for enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of clinical drugs.

Pulmonary inhalation for disease treatment: Basic research and clinical translations

Pulmonary drug delivery has the advantages of being rapid, efficient, and well-targeted, with few systemic side effects. In addition, it is non-invasive and has good patient compliance, making it a highly promising drug delivery mode. However, there have been limited studies on drug delivery via pulmonary inhalation compared with oral and intravenous modes. This paper summarizes the basic research and clinical translation of pulmonary inhalation drug delivery for the treatment of diseases and provides insights into the latest advances in pulmonary drug delivery. The paper discusses the processing methods for pulmonary drug delivery, drug carriers (with a focus on various types of nanoparticles), delivery devices, and applications in pulmonary diseases and treatment of systemic diseases (e.g., COVID-19, inhaled vaccines, diagnosis of the diseases, and diabetes mellitus) with an updated summary of recent research advances. Furthermore, this paper describes the applications and recent progress in pulmonary drug delivery for lung diseases and expands the use of pulmonary drugs for other systemic diseases.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension nanotherapeutics: New pharmacological targets and drug delivery strategies

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, serious, and incurable disease characterized by high lung pressure. PAH-approved drugs based on conventional pathways are still not exhibiting favorable therapeutic outcomes. Drawbacks like short half-lives, toxicity, and teratogenicity hamper effectiveness, clinical conventionality, and long-term safety. Hence, approaches like repurposing drugs targeting various and new pharmacological cascades and/or loaded in non-toxic/efficient nanocarrier systems are being investigated lately. This review summarizes the status of conventional, repurposed, either in vitro, in vivo, and/or in clinical trials of PAH treatment. In-depth description, discussion, and classification of the new pharmacological targets and nanomedicine strategies with a description of all the nanocarriers that showed promising efficiency in delivering drugs are discussed. Ultimately, an illustration of the different nucleic acids tailored and nanoencapsulated within different types of nanocarriers to restore the pathways affected by this disease is presented.

Harnessing inhaled nanoparticles to overcome the pulmonary barrier for respiratory disease therapy

The lack of effective treatments for pulmonary diseases presents a significant global health burden, primarily due to the challenges posed by the pulmonary barrier that hinders drug delivery to the lungs. Inhaled nanomedicines, with their capacity for localized and precise drug delivery to specific pulmonary pathologies through the respiratory route, hold tremendous promise as a solution to these challenges. Nevertheless, the realization of efficient and safe pulmonary drug delivery remains fraught with multifaceted challenges. This review summarizes the delivery barriers associated with major pulmonary diseases, the physicochemical properties and drug formulations affecting these barriers, and emphasizes the design advantages and functional integration of nanomedicine in overcoming pulmonary barriers for efficient and safe local drug delivery. The review also deliberates on established nanocarriers and explores drug formulation strategies rooted in these nanocarriers, thereby furnishing essential guidance for the rational design and implementation of pulmonary nanotherapeutics. Finally, this review cast a forward-looking perspective, contemplating the clinical prospects and challenges inherent in the application of inhaled nanomedicines for respiratory diseases.

Pulmonary drug delivery for acute respiratory distress syndrome

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that causes respiratory failure. Despite numerous clinical trials, there are no molecularly targeted pharmacologic therapies to prevent or treat ARDS. Drug delivery during ARDS is challenging due to the heterogenous nature of lung injury and occlusion of lung units by edema fluid and inflammation. Pulmonary drug delivery during ARDS offers several potential advantages including limiting the off-target and off-organ effects and directly targeting the damaged and inflamed lung regions. In this review we summarize recent ARDS clinical trials using both systemic and pulmonary drug delivery. We then discuss the advantages of pulmonary drug delivery and potential challenges to its implementation. Finally, we discuss the use of nanoparticle drug delivery and surfactant-based drug carriers as potential strategies for delivering therapeutics to the injured lung in ARDS.

Exploring state-of-the-art advances in targeted nanomedicines for managing acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases

Diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases pose serious challenges. Currently, diagnostic as well as therapeutic methods show poor efficacy toward drug-resistant bacterial infections, while chemotherapy causes toxicity and nonspecific delivery of drugs. Advanced treatment methods that cure lung-related diseases, by enabling drug bioavailability via nasal passages during mucosal formation, which interferes with drug penetration to targeted sites, are in demand. Nanotechnology confers several advantages. Currently, different nanoparticles, or their combinations, are being used to enhance targeted drug delivery. Nanomedicine, a combination of nanoparticles and therapeutic agents, that delivers drugs to targeted sites increases the bioavailability of drugs at these sites. Thus, nanotechnology is superior to conventional chemotherapeutic strategies. Here, the authors review the latest advancements in nanomedicine-based drug-delivery methods for managing acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases.

Nanocarriers for Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicine (AIFCM) Used in Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy

Active ingredients of Chinese medicine (AIFCM) are pharmacological substances taken from traditional Chinese medicine that show promise in treating gastrointestinal cancer. Compared with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, AIFCM have advantages such as multi-target and multi-level treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Nanocarriers have the following advantages, better bioavailability, passive or active targeting of tumor sites and responsive release of drugs. The use of nanocarriers for delivery of AIFCM in treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, can overcome the disadvantages of some AIFCM, such as insolubility and low bioavailability. In this review, we first outline the background on gastrointestinal cancer, main curative factors and conventional therapeutic approaches. Then, the mechanisms for AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer therapy are presented in the following four aspects: gene regulation, immune modulation, cellular pathway transduction, and alteration of intestinal flora. Thirdly, preparation of various nanocarriers and results when combining AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer are presented. Fourth, application of novel targeted nanocarriers and responsive nanocarriers in gastrointestinal tumors is further introduced. Finally, the application of AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer is summarized and prospected, hoping to shed some light on the nanocarrier-bound AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.

Targeting pulmonary vascular endothelial cells for the treatment of respiratory diseases

Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (VECs) are the main damaged cells in the pathogenesis of various respiratory diseases and they mediate the development and regulation of the diseases. Effective intervention targeting pulmonary VECs is of great significance for the treatment of respiratory diseases. A variety of cell markers are expressed on the surface of VECs, some of which can be specifically combined with the drugs or carriers modified by corresponding ligands such as ICAM-1, PECAM-1, and P-selectin, to achieve effective delivery of drugs in lung tissues. In addition, the great endothelial surface area of the pulmonary vessels, the “first pass effect” of venous blood in lung tissues, and the high volume and relatively slow blood perfusion rate of pulmonary capillaries further promote the drug distribution in lung tissues. This review summarizes the representative markers at the onset of respiratory diseases, drug delivery systems designed to target these markers and their therapeutic effects.

The Vascular Endothelium and Coagulation: Homeostasis, Disease, and Treatment, with a Focus on the Von Willebrand Factor and Factors VIII and V

The vascular endothelium has several important functions, including hemostasis. The homeostasis of hemostasis is based on a fine balance between procoagulant and anticoagulant proteins and between fibrinolytic and antifibrinolytic ones. Coagulopathies are characterized by a mutation-induced alteration of the function of certain coagulation factors or by a disturbed balance between the mechanisms responsible for regulating coagulation. Homeostatic therapies consist in replacement and nonreplacement treatments or in the administration of antifibrinolytic agents. Rebalancing products reestablish hemostasis by inhibiting natural anticoagulant pathways. These agents include monoclonal antibodies, such as concizumab and marstacimab, which target the tissue factor pathway inhibitor; interfering RNA therapies, such as fitusiran, which targets antithrombin III; and protease inhibitors, such as serpinPC, which targets active protein C. In cases of thrombophilia (deficiency of protein C, protein S, or factor V Leiden), treatment may consist in direct oral anticoagulants, replacement therapy (plasma or recombinant ADAMTS13) in cases of a congenital deficiency of ADAMTS13, or immunomodulators (prednisone) if the thrombophilia is autoimmune. Monoclonal-antibody-based anti-vWF immunotherapy (caplacizumab) is used in the context of severe thrombophilia, regardless of the cause of the disorder. In cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation, the treatment of choice consists in administration of antifibrinolytics, all-trans-retinoic acid, and recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin.

Expanding the arsenal against pulmonary diseases using surface-functionalized polymeric micelles: breakthroughs and bottlenecks

Pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer, asthma and tuberculosis have remained one of the common challenges globally. Polymeric micelles (PMs) have emerged as an effective technique for achieving targeted drug delivery for a local as well as a systemic effect. These PMs encapsulate and protect hydrophobic drugs, increase pulmonary targeting, decrease side effects and enhance drug efficacy through the inhalation route. In the current review, emphasis has been placed on the different barriers encountered by the drugs given via the pulmonary route and the mechanism of PMs in achieving drug targeting. The applications of PMs in different pulmonary diseases have also been discussed in detail.

An Externally-Applied, Natural-Mineral-Based Novel Nanomaterial IFMC Improves Cardiopulmonary Function under Aerobic Exercise

Nanotechnology has widespread applications in sports; however, there are very few studies reporting the use of nanotechnology to enhance physical performance. We hypothesize that a natural-mineral-based novel nanomaterial, which was developed from Japanese hot springs, might overcome the limitations. We examined if it could enhance physical performance. We conducted a treadmill exercise test on 18 students of athletic clubs at Fukushima University, Japan, and measured heart rate, oxygen consumption, maximal oxygen consumption, CO2 production, and respiratory quotient 106 times in total. The results showed that the elevation of heart rate was significantly suppressed in the natural-mineral-based nanomaterial group, while no differences were observed in oxygen consumption, maximal oxygen consumption, CO2 production, and respiratory quotient between groups. To our knowledge, this result is the first evidence where an improvement of cardiovascular and pulmonary functions was induced by bringing a natural-mineral-based nanomaterial into contact with or close to a living body without pharmacological intervention or physical intervention. This could open new avenue of biomedical industries even in an eco-friendly direction. The precise mechanisms remain a matter for further investigation; however, we may assume that endothelial NO synthase, hemoglobin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor are deeply involved in the improvement of cardiovascular and pulmonary functions.

Recent Developments in Nanomaterials-Based Drug Delivery and Upgrading Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, despite the recent developments in the management of CVDs, the early and long outcomes vary considerably in patients, especially with the current challenges facing the detection and treatment of CVDs. This disparity is due to a lack of advanced diagnostic tools and targeted therapies, requiring innovative and alternative methods. Nanotechnology offers the opportunity to use nanomaterials in improving health and controlling diseases. Notably, nanotechnologies have recognized potential applicability in managing chronic diseases in the past few years, especially cancer and CVDs. Of particular interest is the use of nanoparticles as drug carriers to increase the pharmaco-efficacy and safety of conventional therapies. Different strategies have been proposed to use nanoparticles as drug carriers in CVDs; however, controversies regarding the selection of nanomaterials and nanoformulation are slowing their clinical translation. Therefore, this review focuses on nanotechnology for drug delivery and the application of nanomedicine in CVDs.

Supramolecular arrangement of protein in nanoparticle structures predicts nanoparticle tropism for neutrophils in acute lung inflammation

This study shows that the supramolecular arrangement of proteins in nanoparticle structures predicts nanoparticle accumulation in neutrophils in acute lung inflammation (ALI). We observed homing to inflamed lungs for a variety of nanoparticles with agglutinated protein (NAPs), defined by arrangement of protein in or on the nanoparticles via hydrophobic interactions, crosslinking and electrostatic interactions. Nanoparticles with symmetric protein arrangement (for example, viral capsids) had no selectivity for inflamed lungs. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry showed NAPs have tropism for pulmonary neutrophils. Protein-conjugated liposomes were engineered to recapitulate NAP tropism for pulmonary neutrophils. NAP uptake in neutrophils was shown to depend on complement opsonization. We demonstrate diagnostic imaging of ALI with NAPs; show NAP tropism for inflamed human donor lungs; and show that NAPs can remediate pulmonary oedema in ALI. This work demonstrates that structure-dependent tropism for neutrophils drives NAPs to inflamed lungs and shows NAPs can detect and treat ALI.

Nanomedicine to advance the treatment of bacteria-induced acute lung injury

Bacteria-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with a high mortality rate due to the lack of an effective treatment. Patients often rely on supportive care such as low tidal volume ventilation to alleviate the symptoms. Nanomedicine has recently received much attention owing to its premium benefits of delivering drugs in a sustainable and controllable manner while minimizing the potential side effects. It can effectively improve the prognosis of bacteria-induced ALI through targeted delivery of drugs, regulation of multiple inflammatory pathways, and combating antibiotic resistance. Hence, in this review, we first discuss the pathogenesis of ALI and its potential therapeutics. In particular, the state-of-the-art nanomedicines for the treatment of bacteria-induced ALI are highlighted, including their administration routes, in vivo distribution, and clearance. Furthermore, the available bacteria-induced ALI animal models are also summarized. In the end, future perspectives of nanomedicine for ALI treatment are proposed.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pulmonary drug delivery

Over the last years, respiratory diseases represent a clinical concern, being included among the leading causes of death in the world due to the lack of effective lung therapies, mainly ascribed to the pulmonary barriers affecting the delivery of drugs to the lungs. In this way, nanomedicine has arisen as a promising approach to overcome the limitations of current therapies for pulmonary diseases. The use of nanoparticles allows enhancing drug bioavailability at the target site while minimizing undesired side effects. Despite different approaches have been developed for pulmonary delivery of drugs, including the use of polymers, lipid-based nanoparticles, and inorganic nanoparticles, more efforts are required to achieve effective pulmonary drug delivery. This review provides an overview of the clinical challenges in main lung diseases, as well as highlighted the role of nanomedicine in achieving efficient pulmonary drug delivery. Drug delivery into the lungs is a complex process limited by the anatomical, physiological and immunological barriers of the respiratory system. We discuss how nanomedicine can be useful to overcome these pulmonary barriers and give insights for the rational design of future nanoparticles for enhancing lung treatments. We also attempt herein to display more in detail the potential of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as promising nanocarrier for pulmonary drug delivery by providing a comprehensive overview of their application in lung delivery to date while discussing the use of these particles for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Nanomedicine for acute respiratory distress syndrome: The latest application, targeting strategy, and rational design

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by the severe inflammation and destruction of the lung air-blood barrier, leading to irreversible and substantial respiratory function damage. Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been encountered with a high risk of ARDS, underscoring the urgency for exploiting effective therapy. However, proper medications for ARDS are still lacking due to poor pharmacokinetics, non-specific side effects, inability to surmount pulmonary barrier, and inadequate management of heterogeneity. The increased lung permeability in the pathological environment of ARDS may contribute to nanoparticle-mediated passive targeting delivery. Nanomedicine has demonstrated unique advantages in solving the dilemma of ARDS drug therapy, which can address the shortcomings and limitations of traditional anti-inflammatory or antioxidant drug treatment. Through passive, active, or physicochemical targeting, nanocarriers can interact with lung epithelium/endothelium and inflammatory cells to reverse abnormal changes and restore homeostasis of the pulmonary environment, thereby showing good therapeutic activity and reduced toxicity. This article reviews the latest applications of nanomedicine in pre-clinical ARDS therapy, highlights the strategies for targeted treatment of lung inflammation, presents the innovative drug delivery systems, and provides inspiration for strengthening the therapeutic effect of nanomedicine-based treatment.

Emerging Approaches to Understanding Microvascular Endothelial Heterogeneity: A Roadmap for Developing Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutics

The endothelium is the inner layer of all blood vessels and it regulates hemostasis. It also plays an active role in the regulation of the systemic inflammatory response. Systemic inflammatory disease often results in alterations in vascular endothelium barrier function, increased permeability, excessive leukocyte trafficking, and reactive oxygen species production, leading to organ damage. Therapeutics targeting endothelium inflammation are urgently needed, but strong concerns regarding the level of phenotypic heterogeneity of microvascular endothelial cells between different organs and species have been expressed. Microvascular endothelial cell heterogeneity in different organs and organ-specific variations in endothelial cell structure and function are regulated by intrinsic signals that are differentially expressed across organs and species; a result of this is that neutrophil recruitment to discrete organs may be regulated differently. In this review, we will discuss the morphological and functional variations in differently originated microvascular endothelia and discuss how these variances affect systemic function in response to inflammation. We will review emerging in vivo and in vitro models and techniques, including microphysiological devices, proteomics, and RNA sequencing used to study the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of endothelia from different organs. A better understanding of microvascular endothelial cell heterogeneity will provide a roadmap for developing novel therapeutics to target the endothelium.

Controlled drug release from polyelectrolyte-drug conjugate nanoparticles

Encapsulating drugs in functional nanoparticles provides controlled and targeted release of drugs. In this study, a general approach for encapsulating hydrophobic drugs in polyelectrolyte nanoparticles was developed for a controlled drug release. Gemcitabine (GEM), an anticancer drug for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), was used as a model drug to produce poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-GEM conjugate nanoparticles to achieve a controlled release of GEM in cells. The PAA-GEM conjugate nanoparticles were fabricated by coupling GEM onto PAA through the formation of amide bonds. The hydrophobic interactions of GEM molecules induced the formation of the nanoparticles with the GEM core and PAA shell. Fabrication conditions such as the PAA/GEM ratio and pH were optimized to achieve high structure stability and drug loading efficiency. The size and surface charge of the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurement. The optimized PAA-GEM nanoparticles had a size around 12 nm, 30 nm and 60 nm in dry state, water, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS), respectively. The encapsulation efficiency was 29.29 ± 1.7%, and the loading capacity was 9.44 ± 0.46%. Less than 7% GEM was released from the PAA-GEM nanoparticles after 96 hour incubation in phosphate buffered saline. The cytotoxic efficacy of the PAA-GEM nanoparticles in cancer cells was investigated through viability studies of PANC-1, a human pancreatic cancer cell line. It was found that the PAA-GEM nanoparticles had more than a 48 hour delay of releasing GEM and had the same cytotoxic efficacy in PANC-1 cells as free GEM. The uptake of the PAA-GEM nanoparticles by PANC-1 cells was investigated using PAA-GEM labeled by rhodamine G6. Fluorescence and bright field overlay images indicated that the PAA-GEM nanoparticles were taken up by PANC-1 cells within 2 hours. It is believed that the PAA-GEM nanoparticles were decomposed in PANC-1 cells and GEM was released from the nanoparticles.

Nanoparticle Delivery Systems with Cell-Specific Targeting for Pulmonary Diseases

Respiratory disorders are among the most important medical problems threatening human life. The conventional therapeutics for respiratory disorders are hindered by insufficient drug concentrations at pathological lesions, lack of cell-specific targeting, and various biobarriers in the conducting airways and alveoli. To address these critical issues, various nanoparticle delivery systems have been developed to serve as carriers of specific drugs, DNA expression vectors, and RNAs. The unique properties of nanoparticles, including controlled size and distribution, surface functional groups, high payload capacity, and drug release triggering capabilities, are tailored to specific requirements in drug/gene delivery to overcome major delivery barriers in pulmonary diseases. To avoid off-target effects and improve therapeutic efficacy, nanoparticles with high cell-targeting specificity are essential for successful nanoparticle therapies. Furthermore, low toxicity and high degradability of the nanoparticles are among the most important requirements in the nanoparticle designs. In this review, we provide the most up-to-date research and clinical outcomes in nanoparticle therapies for pulmonary diseases. We also address the current critical issues in key areas of pulmonary cell targeting, biosafety and compatibility, and molecular mechanisms for selective cellular uptake.

Studies on metal-organic framework (MOF) nanomedicine preparations of sildenafil for the future treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an incurable disease, although symptoms are treated with a range of dilator drugs. Despite their clinical benefits, these drugs are limited by systemic side-effects. It is, therefore, increasingly recognised that using controlled drug-release nanoformulation, with future modifications for targeted drug delivery, may overcome these limitations. This study presents the first evaluation of a promising nanoformulation (highly porous iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF); nanoMIL-89) as a carrier for the PAH-drug sildenafil, which we have previously shown to be relatively non-toxic in vitro and well-tolerated in vivo. In this study, nanoMIL-89 was prepared and charged with a payload of sildenafil (generating Sil@nanoMIL-89). Sildenafil release was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and its effect on cell viability and dilator function in mouse aorta were assessed. Results showed that Sil@nanoMIL-89 released sildenafil over 6 h, followed by a more sustained release over 72 h. Sil@nanoMIL-89 showed no significant toxicity in human blood outgrowth endothelial cells for concentrations up to100µg/ml; however, it reduced the viability of the human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) at concentrations > 3 µg/ml without inducing cellular cytotoxicity. Finally, Sil@nanoMIL-89 induced vasodilation of mouse aorta after a lag phase of 2-4 h. To our knowledge, this study represents the first demonstration of a novel nanoformulation displaying delayed drug release corresponding to vasodilator activity. Further pharmacological assessment of our nanoformulation, including in PAH models, is required and constitutes the subject of ongoing investigations.

SU5416 attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by modulating properties of vascular endothelial cells

Background and aim: A potent and selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor SU5416, has been developed for the treatment of solid human tumors. The binding of VEGF to VEGFR plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of respiratory disorders. However, the impact of SU5416 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to illuminate the biofunction of SU5416 in the mouse model of ALI.

Methods: Wild-type (WT) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-deficient (TLR4^−/-) C57BL/6 mice were used to establish LPS-induced ALI model. The primary pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (PMVEC) was extracted for detection of endothelial barrier function.

Results: LPS significantly increased the number of inflammatory cells and inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, LPS increased alveolar epithelial cells injury, inflammation infiltration and vascular permeability of PMVEC in WT and TLR4^−/- mice. Western blotting experiment indicated VEGF/VEGFR and TLR4/NF-κB pathways were involved in the progression of LPS-stimulated ALI. Consistent with previous research, dexamethasone treatment appeared to be an effective therapeutic for mice with ALI. Moreover, treatment with SU5416 dramatically attenuated LPS-induced immune responses in mice lung tissues via inhibiting VEGF/VEGFR and TLR4/NF-κB pathways. Finally, SU5416 also decreased vascular permeability of PMVEC in vitro.

Conclusion: SU5416 ameliorated alveolar epithelial cells injury and histopathological changes in mice lung via inhibiting VEGF/VEGFR and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways. We also confirmed that SU5416 could restrain vascular permeability in PMVEC through improving the integrity of endothelial cell. These findings suggested that SU5416 may serve as a potential agent for the treatment of patients with ALI.

Vascular Targeting of Radiolabeled Liposomes with Bio-Orthogonally Conjugated Ligands: Single Chain Fragments Provide Higher Specificity than Antibodies

Liposomes are a proven, versatile, and clinically viable technology platform for vascular delivery of drugs and imaging probes. Although targeted liposomes have the potential to advance these applications, complex formulations and the need for optimal affinity ligands and conjugation strategies challenge their translation. Herein, we employed copper-free click chemistry functionalized liposomes to target platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) by conjugating clickable monoclonal antibodies (Ab) or their single chain variable fragments (scFv). For direct, quantitative tracing, liposomes were surface chelated with ¹¹¹In to a >90% radiochemical yield and purity. Particle size and distribution, stability, ligand surface density, and specific binding to target cells were characterized in vitro. Biodistribution of liposomes after IV injection was characterized in mice using isotope detection in organs and by noninvasive imaging (single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography, SPECT/CT). As much as 20-25% of injected dose of liposomes carrying PECAM and ICAM ligands, but not control IgG accumulated in the pulmonary vasculature. The immunospecificity of pulmonary targeting of scFv/liposomes to PECAM-1 and ICAM-1, respectively, was 10-fold and 2.5-fold higher than of Ab/liposomes. Therefore, the combination of optimal ligands, benign conjugation, and labeling yields liposomal formulations that may be used for highly effective and specific vascular targeting.

Red blood cell-hitchhiking boosts delivery of nanocarriers to chosen organs by orders of magnitude

Drug delivery by nanocarriers (NCs) has long been stymied by dominant liver uptake and limited target organ deposition, even when NCs are targeted using affinity moieties. Here we report a universal solution: red blood cell (RBC)-hitchhiking (RH), in which NCs adsorbed onto the RBCs transfer from RBCs to the first organ downstream of the intravascular injection. RH improves delivery for a wide range of NCs and even viral vectors. For example, RH injected intravenously increases liposome uptake in the first downstream organ, lungs, by ~40-fold compared with free NCs. Intra-carotid artery injection of RH NCs delivers >10% of the injected NC dose to the brain, ~10× higher than that achieved with affinity moieties. Further, RH works in mice, pigs, and ex vivo human lungs without causing RBC or end-organ toxicities. Thus, RH is a clinically translatable platform technology poised to augment drug delivery in acute lung disease, stroke, and several other diseases.

Nanomedicine for the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The 2016 ATS Bear Cage Award-winning Proposal

After dozens of clinical trials, there are still no Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs that improve mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These poor results may be caused in part by three unique pharmacological challenges presented by ARDS: (1) Patients with ARDS are fragile because of concomitant multiple organ dysfunction, so they do not tolerate off-target side effects of drugs; (2) inhaled drug delivery is impeded by the column of proteinaceous fluid covering the injured alveoli; and (3) ARDS is heterogeneous in its underlying pathophysiology, so targeting one pathway is unlikely to improve most patients. To address these three pharmacological problems, I present the development of pulmonary endothelium-targeted liposomes (PELs). PELs are approximately 100-nm drug carriers coated with antibodies that bind to the pulmonary capillary endothelium. In model organisms, intravenously injected PELs strongly concentrate drugs in alveoli, even in animal models displaying severe, spatially heterogeneous pathology similar to severe ARDS. By concentrating drugs in inflamed alveoli, PELs solve pharmacological challenge (1) above. By being obligate intravenous medications, they solve challenge (2). Finally, because PELs can be loaded with at least three drugs, they can solve challenge (3) with combination drug therapy. My colleagues and I are currently testing PELs loaded with numerous candidate drugs in mouse models of ARDS, and we are testing drug distribution in live pigs and ex vivo human lungs. We aim to use such preclinical validation to move PELs into a partnership with industry, and then to patients.

Site-Specific Modification of Single-Chain Antibody Fragments for Bioconjugation and Vascular Immunotargeting

The conjugation of antibodies to drugs and drug carriers improves delivery to target tissues. Widespread implementation and effective translation of this pharmacologic strategy awaits the development of affinity ligands capable of a defined degree of modification and highly efficient bioconjugation without loss of affinity. To date, such ligands are lacking for the targeting of therapeutics to vascular endothelial cells. To enable site-specific, click-chemistry conjugation to therapeutic cargo, we used the bacterial transpeptidase, sortase A, to attach short azidolysine containing peptides to three endothelial-specific single chain antibody fragments (scFv). While direct fusion of a recognition motif (sortag) to the scFv C-terminus generally resulted in low levels of sortase-mediated modification, improved reaction efficiency was observed for one protein, in which two amino acids had been introduced during cloning. This prompted insertion of a short, semi-rigid linker between scFv and sortag. The linker significantly enhanced modification of all three proteins, to the extent that unmodified scFv could no longer be detected. As proof of principle, purified, azide-modified scFv was conjugated to the antioxidant enzyme, catalase, resulting in robust endothelial targeting of functional cargo in vitro and in vivo.

The new frontiers of the targeted interventions in the pulmonary vasculature: precision and safety (2017 Grover Conference Series)

The pulmonary vasculature plays an important role in many lung pathologies, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, primary graft dysfunction of lung transplant, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Therapy for these diseases is quite limited, largely due to dose-limiting side effects of numerous drugs that have been trialed or approved. High doses of drugs targeting the pulmonary vasculature are needed due to the lack of specific affinity of therapeutic compounds to the vasculature. To overcome this problem, the field of targeted drug delivery aims to target drugs to the pulmonary endothelial cells, especially those in pathological regions. The field uses a variety of drug delivery systems (DDSs), ranging from nano-scale drug carriers, such as liposomes, to methods of conjugating drugs to affinity moieites, such as antibodies. These DDSs can deliver small molecule drugs, protein therapeutics, and imaging agents. Here we review targeted drug delivery to the pulmonary endothelium for the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Cautionary notes are made of the risk–benefit ratio and safety—parameters one should keep in mind when developing a translational therapeutic.

Inhalation therapies in acute respiratory distress syndrome

The defining features of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are an excessive inflammatory respiratory response associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment consists mainly of measures to avoid worsening lung injury and cannot reverse the underlying pathophysiological process. New pharmacological agents have shown promising results in preclinical studies; however, they have not been successfully translated to patients with ARDS. The lack of effective therapeutic interventions has resulted in a recent interest in strategies to prevent ARDS with treatments delivering medications directly to the lungs by inhalation and nebulization, hopefully minimizing systemic adverse events. We analyzed the effect of different aerosolized drugs such as bronchodilators, corticosteroids, pulmonary vasodilators, anticoagulants, mucolytics and surfactant. New therapeutic strategies and ongoing trials using carbon monoxide (CO) and AP301 peptide are also briefly reviewed.

Chemical and biological assessment of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) in pulmonary cells and in an acute in vivo model: relevance to pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and debilitating condition. Despite promoting vasodilation, current drugs have a therapeutic window within which they are limited by systemic side effects. Nanomedicine uses nanoparticles to improve drug delivery and/or reduce side effects. We hypothesize that this approach could be used to deliver PAH drugs avoiding the systemic circulation. Here we report the use of iron metal organic framework (MOF) MIL-89 and PEGylated MIL-89 (MIL-89 PEG) as suitable carriers for PAH drugs. We assessed their effects on viability and inflammatory responses in a wide range of lung cells including endothelial cells grown from blood of donors with/without PAH. Both MOFs conformed to the predicted structures with MIL-89 PEG being more stable at room temperature. At concentrations up to 10 or 30 µg/mL, toxicity was only seen in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells where both MOFs reduced cell viability and CXCL8 release. In endothelial cells from both control donors and PAH patients, both preparations inhibited the release of CXCL8 and endothelin-1 and in macrophages inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase activity. Finally, MIL-89 was well-tolerated and accumulated in the rat lungs when given in vivo. Thus, the prototypes MIL-89 and MIL-89 PEG with core capacity suitable to accommodate PAH drugs are relatively non-toxic and may have the added advantage of being anti-inflammatory and reducing the release of endothelin-1. These data are consistent with the idea that these materials may not only be useful as drug carriers in PAH but also offer some therapeutic benefit in their own right.

Novel translational approaches to the search for precision therapies for acute respiratory distress syndrome

In the 50 years since acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was first described, substantial progress has been made in identifying the risk factors for and the pathogenic contributors to the syndrome and in characterising the protein expression patterns in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with ARDS. Despite this effort, however, pharmacological options for ARDS remain scarce. Frequently cited reasons for this absence of specific drug therapies include the heterogeneity of patients with ARDS, the potential for a differential response to drugs, and the possibility that the wrong targets have been studied. Advances in applied biomolecular technology and bioinformatics have enabled breakthroughs for other complex traits, such as cardiovascular disease or asthma, particularly when a precision medicine paradigm, wherein a biomarker or gene expression pattern indicates a patient's likelihood of responding to a treatment, has been pursued. In this Review, we consider the biological and analytical techniques that could facilitate a precision medicine approach for ARDS.

Mechanisms that determine nanocarrier targeting to healthy versus inflamed lung regions

Inflamed organs display marked spatial heterogeneity of inflammation, with patches of inflamed tissue adjacent to healthy tissue. To investigate how nanocarriers (NCs) distribute between such patches, we created a mouse model that recapitulates the spatial heterogeneity of the inflammatory lung disease ARDS. NCs targeting the epitope PECAM strongly accumulated in the lungs, but were shunted away from inflamed lung regions due to hypoxic vasoconstriction (HVC). In contrast, ICAM-targeted NCs, which had lower whole-lung uptake than PECAM/NCs in inflamed lungs, displayed markedly higher NC levels in inflamed regions than PECAM/NCs, due to increased regional ICAM. Regional HVC, epitope expression, and capillary leak were sufficient to predict intra-organ of distribution of NCs, antibodies, and drugs. Importantly, these effects were not observable with traditional spatially-uniform models of ARDS, nor when examining only whole-organ uptake. This study underscores how examining NCs' intra-organ distribution in spatially heterogeneous animal models can guide rational NC design.

Impact of particle elasticity on particle-based drug delivery systems

Modification of nano/micro-particle physical parameters (e.g. size, shape, surface charge) has proven to be an effective method to enhance their delivery abilities. Recently, advances in particle synthesis have facilitated investigations into the role that particle elasticity plays in modulating drug delivery processes. This review will highlight: (i) methods to tune particle elasticity, (ii) the role particle elasticity plays in cellular internalization, (iii) the role of particle elasticity in modulating circulation times, (iv) the effect of particle elasticity on altering biodistribution and tissue targeting, and (v) the application of computational methods to explain the differences in cellular internalization of particles of different elasticities. Overall, literature reports suggest a complex relationship between particle elasticity and drug delivery processes. Despite this complex relationship, it is clear from numerous in vitro and in vivo studies that particle elasticity is an important parameter that can be leveraged to improve blood circulation, tissue targeting, and specific interactions with cells.

Non-affinity factors modulating vascular targeting of nano- and microcarriers

Particles capable of homing and adhering to specific vascular biomarkers have potential as fundamental tools in drug delivery for mediation of a wide variety of pathologies, including inflammation, thrombosis, and pulmonary disorders. The presentation of affinity ligands on the surface of a particle provides a means of targeting the particle to sites of therapeutic interest, but a host of other factors come into play in determining the targeting capacity of the particle. This review presents a summary of several key considerations in nano- and microparticle design that modulate targeted delivery without directly altering epitope-specific affinity. Namely, we describe the effect of factors in definition of the base carrier (including shape, size, and flexibility) on the capacity of carriers to access, adhere to, and integrate in target biological milieus. Furthermore, we present a summary of fundamental dynamics of carrier behavior in circulation, taking into account interactions with cells in circulation and the role of hemodynamics in mediating the direction of carriers to target sites. Finally, we note non-affinity aspects to uptake and intracellular trafficking of carriers in target cells. In total, recent findings presented here may offer an opportunity to capitalize on mitigating factors in the behavior of ligand-targeted carriers in order to optimize targeting.

Vascular Accessibility of Endothelial Targeted Ferritin Nanoparticles

Targeting nanocarriers to the endothelium, using affinity ligands to cell adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 and PECAM-1, holds promise to improve the pharmacotherapy of many disease conditions. This approach capitalizes on the observation that antibody-targeted carriers of 100 nm and above accumulate in the pulmonary vasculature more effectively than free antibodies. Targeting of prospective nanocarriers in the 10-50 nm range, however, has not been studied. To address this intriguing issue, we conjugated monoclonal antibodies (Ab) to ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 or their single chain antigen-binding fragments (scFv) to ferritin nanoparticles (FNPs, size 12 nm), thereby producing Ab/FNPs and scFv/FNPs. Targeted FNPs retained their typical symmetric core-shell structure with sizes of 20-25 nm and ∼4-5 Ab (or ∼7-9 scFv) per particle. Ab/FNPs and scFv/FNPs, but not control IgG/FNPs, bound specifically to cells expressing target molecules and accumulated in the lungs after intravenous injection, with pulmonary targeting an order of magnitude higher than free Ab. Most intriguing, the targeting of Ab/FNPs to ICAM-1, but not PECAM-1, surpassed that of larger Ab/carriers targeted by the same ligand. These results indicate that (i) FNPs may provide a platform for targeting endothelial adhesion molecules with carriers in the 20 nm size range, which has not been previously reported; and (ii) ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 (known to localize in different domains of endothelial plasmalemma) differ in their accessibility to circulating objects of this size, common for blood components and nanocarriers.

Nanotechnological applications for the control of pulmonary infections

Pulmonary infections are the major global problem. According to the global burden of disease study, lower respiratory infections were ranked third among the leading causes of death after ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Despite the availability of treatment options and diagnostic methods, the severity of pulmonary infections is increasing due to the emergence of multiple drug resistance and lack of sensitivity in pathogenic microbes.

In this context, nanotechnology based treatment therapies have emerged as a promising approach to circumvent the limitations of conventional therapies and also manage the problem of drug resistance in pulmonary infections. The present chapter is focused on the global status of existing management strategies of pulmonary infections and their limitations. Moreover, the role of nanotechnology for the management of pulmonary infections with a special reference to different type of nanomaterials has also been discussed.

Drug carrier interaction with blood: a critical aspect for high-efficient vascular-targeted drug delivery systems

Vascular wall endothelial cells control several physiological processes and are implicated in many diseases, making them an attractive candidate for drug targeting. Vascular-targeted drug carriers (VTCs) offer potential for reduced side effects and improved therapeutic efficacy, however, only limited therapeutic success has been achieved to date. This is perhaps due to complex interactions of VTCs with blood components, which dictate VTC transport and adhesion to endothelial cells. This review focuses on VTC interaction with blood as well as novel 'bio-inspired' designs to mimic and exploit features of blood in VTC development. Advanced approaches for enhancing VTCs are discussed along with applications in regenerative medicine, an area of massive potential growth and expansion of VTC utility in the near future.

Systems approaches to design of targeted therapeutic delivery

Targeted drug delivery aims to improve therapeutic effects and enable mechanisms that are not feasible for untargeted agents (e.g., due to impermeable biological barriers). To achieve targeting, a drug or its carrier should possess properties providing specific accumulation from circulation at the desired site. There are several examples of systems-inspired approaches that have been applied to achieve this goal. First, proteomics analysis of plasma membrane fraction of the vascular endothelium has identified a series of target molecules and their ligands (e.g., antibodies) that deliver conjugated cargoes to well-defined vascular cells and subcellular compartments. Second, selection of ligands binding to cells of interest using phage display libraries in vitro and in vivo has provided peptides and polypeptides that bind to normal and pathologically altered cells. Finally, large-scale high-throughput combinatorial synthesis and selection of lipid- and polymer-based nanocarriers varying their chemical components has yielded a series of carriers accumulating in diverse organs and delivering RNA interference agents to diverse cells. Together, these approaches offer a basis for systems-based design and selection of targets, targeting molecules, and targeting vehicles. Current studies focus on expanding the arsenal of these and alternative targeting strategies, devising drug delivery systems capitalizing on these strategies and evaluation of their benefit/risk ratio in adequate animal models of human diseases. These efforts, combined with better understanding of mechanisms and unintended consequences of these targeted interventions, need to be ultimately translated into industrial development and the clinical domain.